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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Hotel Crillon Auction

Last Friday I went/ran to the first day viewing at the Hotel Crillon of 3,500 auction sale items.

Let me correct that and say I first ran to the auction house, Artcurial at Rond Point, handling the sale, not noticing the auction was being held on site at the Hotel Crillon at place de la Concorde...idiote moi

I thought there would be lines round the block. Not so. Mostly serious buyers taking detailed notes. The fun of going to an auction is you can get close to the objects and even pick them up to examine for your possible future purchases. At the Crillon there were velvet ropes. Small items were safely inside glass cases. But still you could pretend you were staying there.

You start out by going up the stairs 'to see your room'.

On the way up you passed cases holding Hotel Crillon breakfast china from Bernardout and signature silverware.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your own Hotel Crillon room service breakfast table?

And why not buy the whole bedroom set while you're bidding at the auction?

One of the great joys of viewing the Crillon rooms was the lighting

An inherent ambience of another time.

Just exquisite...

The Hotel Crillon was built in 1758 and went through many transformations before becoming a hotel in 1909 with 143 rooms and 44 suites. Many historic signings took place there during WWI and WWII. The front desk receptionist was onhand and much sought after for interviews by all the TV stations present. He must have many good stories to tell. Post-auction Hotel Crillon will be completely rennovated and reopen in Spring of 2014.

Long ago I stayed at the Crillon for a week in my shoe designing days. Back then the hotel let you take home their signature bathrobe as a souvenir. I wish I still had mine...

I absolutely loved your drawing of the silverware w/ the strawberry. Was that your composition/idea for the painting? The Crillon should have had it as their branding. It speaks volumes: class, luxury, yet enticing and seductive (the strawberry). I love your work anyway but this one painting seemed to project all about the Crillon.

I've always had a passion for Hotel Silver (available at Bergdorf)…and of course a deep passion for the Crillon. How I wish I was there in Paris for the auction. Alas, it's impossible. Just a set of teaspoons…or a tray…or anything with their logo. If only someone (you?) will purchase some items and offer them for resale???Of course, I must add that I love/admire your marvelous postings.Mille mercis,Helen

So luxurious, what beautiful furnishings, I'd love to have stayed there, lucky you. Your painting of the spoons would be a lovely souveneer for someone who had stayed there.Thank you for your nice comment on my anniversary blog post.

Clearly, I must cancel my trip to Paris tomorrow so that I can arrange to stay at the Crillon! And extend it to at least 3 months so I can soak in the ambience. Till then I will be content looking at that wonderful silverware painting!

Carol,that beautiful painting and all those wonderful pictures just gave me the happiest reason to revisit the Crillon and our happy memories there.I'm sure it will be gorgeous when they're done with the remodel,but something in the new will definitely be lost from the old. (I join you in your sentiments about the bathrobe!)Thank you for this great post!

This brings back a flood of memories working at the Crillon as a Pastry Stagiare! Fun times (and I remember that cutlery all too well!) Timeless Beauty and Elegantly French ~ loved seeing this and love your painting! ❤J'adore Paris!